Collapsible wall



July 3, 1923.

H. w. MAURER COLLAPSIBLE WALL 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16

July 3, 1923.

H. W. MAURER COLLAPS I BLE WALL Filed Aug.

16 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1 923. 1,460,597

H. w. MAURER GOLLAPSIBLE WALL Filed Aug. 16. 1921 5 sheets-sheet? Patented July 3, 1923.

HERMAN wf' AURER, or cLEvE AND, oHIo.

coLLnrsI-BLE WALL.

Application filed-August 16, 1921. Serial No. 492,661.

T 0 allwhom it may concern:

'Be it known that L'HERMAN \V. MAURER, a citizen of the United States, residing at; Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Collapsible alls, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible walls, and more particularly to that class or type which are particularly designed and adapted for use as division or partition walls in temporarily forming smaller rooms or compartments'in building structures. Y

The primary object of the invention -is-to provide a generally improved collapsible wall of the class 'indica'ted, which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and efficient in use.

A further object is the provision of an improved collapsible wall which may be readily and quickly extended or set up forming an attractive appearing side or partition wall and which may be readily collapsed orfolded up to occupy a compara-.

tively' small space, or if desired may be readily removed and used at various places as a portable device.

A still further and very important object is the provision of an improved collapsible wall section or unit adaptedfto be readily mounted for use and to be connected to one or more sections or units'where'by walls or partitions of any desired lengths or dimensions may be formed. r

A further and important object of the invention is the provision of an improved expansible and collapsible frame section or unit carrying suitable flexible coveringwalls onthe opposite .face sides of the frame section, said walls I andgframe section providing a dead air space between the covering walls to further deaden' or insulate such walls .with respect to the" transmission. of sounds therethrough;

A still further and important object of the invention is theprovision of improved wall section collapsing orfolding .inechanism arranged within andconcealed by the flexible covering wallsof the section, said operating or collapsing mechanism being adapted to operate or collapse thel section v individually, or if desired, be connected to a series or plurality of wall sections, whereby the latter' may be operated simultane ously. v With the above mentioned, and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combine-cl tion of parts, hereinafter described, .illus-. trated in some of its embodiments in the ac-. companying drawings, and particularlypointed out in theappended claims.

' Referring tothe drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a side elevation ofcollapsible wall sections or units,- constructed in accordance with this invention,.applied to or setup in a build ing'structure, the near flexible covering wall being remoyed, and one of the sections or units being collapsed for the purpose of. clearer illustration ofthe parts." Y

Fig. 2, a cross-sectional view of the overhanging track or guide-way taken-on line 2-2 of Fig.1. I p Fig. 3, a vertical cross-sectional view taken *OnlineS-o? of Fig.1, the front or near flexible covering wall being in place." a Fig. 4',"a horizontalcross-sectional view taken on line 4+4 of Fig. 1, the front or near flexible covering wall being, in place. Fig. 5, a side elevation of the frame section in a partially collapsed position, the spaced covering walls, and collapsing cable members being removed for the purpose of clearer illustration of the parts. '3

Fig. 6, a side elevation of the inner side of one ofthe flexible covering. walls, (1etached. V V

Fig-7, a cross-sectional view, on an en larged scale, taken on line 7 7 of Figi'6', and illustrating one of the" a'rcua'tely arranged cable gathering strips and rings; Fig. 8, a diagrammatic side elevation of a modified form of a collapsible wall arranged as a screen, supported from the floor and from the side only. 9, a similar view of a further' modi fication'in use as "a curtain or suspended for vertical movement.

Fig. 10, a side elevation of a modification PATE T! orrica. f g

of the form shown in Fig. 1,in which'the,

frame sections are connected together: for simultaneous operation froin'onei end in stead of being formed separate and coupled in Fig. 1,

7 modification in which the flexible coveringstogether for individual operation as shown like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an improved collapsible wall section or unit adapted to be readily and conveniently mounted for use and to be connected to one or more sections of like'form in providing ing or facing strips 3 as shown most clearly a wall or partition of the desired lengths and dimensions and in accordance with the particular demands and circumstances to be met.

In providing such collapsible wall section or unit, I provide a suitable collapsible frame section, said frame section, preferably comprising relatively rigid and collapsible frame members flexibly connected to each other as hereinafter more fully described.

The frame section or unit is preferably made up of relatively rigid parallelly extending frame members 1, on two of its sides connected by means of relatively movable flexibly connected collapsible frame or end members 2 on the opposite sides or dimen-c slons.

As a means of causing the collapsible end members 2, to fold inwardly toward each other and between the parallelly extending frame members 1, as the latter are moved toward each other in the collapsing or folding operation as hereinafter more fully described, the interposed collapsible members 2, are hingedly connected by means of hinge members 2, arranged on the inner sides to permit this movement, said collapsible frame members 2, being preferably divided as at 2*, midway of their ends and connected by means of hinges 2.

adapted to permit of this collapsing action through the movements of said frame, covering walls 3, of a. suitable flexible material, such as cloth, rubber, flexible composition, or the like are arranged on the opposite face sides of each frame section, the coverings 3, being secured to the edges of the frame members 1 and 2 in any suitable and convenient manner, preferably by means of suitable tacks or securing elements, and tackin Figs. 3 and 4c of the drawings.

The collapsible frame and wall sections may be either mounted singly and independently for individual collapsingand expanding action as shown in Figs. 1 and 11 of the drawings, or arranged in connected relation for simultaneous collapsing and expanding as shown in Figs. 8,9 and 10, of the drawings.

In mounting or setting up the improved collapsible wall within the room or building in which it is to be used, one of the frame members 1, is preferably secured to a side wall or upright member 4 of the building or structure and may be secured thereto by means of securing elements or bolts 4.

As a means of guiding the wall sections in their expanding and contracting movements when set up, the over-hanging wall or ceiling 5 may be provided with a beam or rail 6, provided with a track 6 and a guideway 6*, (see Fig. 2), suitable carriage brackets 6 being provided and connected to the upper ends of the movable frame members 1.

The carriage or suspending brackets 6, are provided with rollers 6 adaptedto travel on the track 6*, in a well known and understood manner.

Where the wall sections or units are mounted separately for individual operation, as shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, the adjacent frame members 1, may be detachably coupled or connected together by means of suitable coupling or fastening members 7 this form of wall offering the advantage of enabling an opening or passage-way being formed at any point by sim ly collapsing one of the sections and wit iout in any way disturbing the remaining wall sections.

As a means of initiallybreaking or draw ing inwardly the inner hinged ends of the collapsible ends 2, of the frame section, and thereby drawing the frame members 1 toward each other in parallel relation and carrying therewith the flexible covering wall 3, a gathering cord or cable 8, is arranged within each end of the frame section and within the adjacent portion of the flexible covering, each of said cables being connected to a fastening or screw-eye 9, of one of the frame members 1, and beingpassed through a pulley 10, near the inner pivoted As a means of providing double wall faces,

ends of the collapsible members, said cable being arranged in converging loop form and passing through gathering eyes 11, on the inner side of the adjacent covering 3, said eyes 11, being preferably arranged on reinforcing strips 12, arranged in arcuate form with respect to the pivoted portions of the hinge members 2*. Each gathering cable 8, thence passes over a pulley 13, at one side and on the end member 1, thence passes downwardly in the form of a depending loop 8*, over a pulley 14, thence upwardly in the form'of an intermediate loop 8", over a pulley in a double floating pulley block15, (see Fig. 3) and thence downover a secondfpulley 13*, after which the cable passes upwardly alongthe adjacent frame member 1, and over a pulley 16, after which the; cable .passes over and through the eyes 11, of the arcuate strip 12,

above and over a pulley 17, on one ofthe collapsible ends and thence over to' a fastener'eye18, of ,the second frame member 1. If desiredthe intermediate vportions of the covering wall 3, may be reinforced and held in a. relativelyfixed position with. re spectto each other by meansof a plurality of vertically arranged reinforcing strips 19, and cross-bars 20. I

As a means of positively using the'upper collapsible members 2, of the frame section, to take theirclosed or expanded position when the frame section is fully expanded, one of the lower collapsible members 2, is

- provided with a fastening element or eye 21,

and acable 22, isconnected to said fastener 21-, and passes over a pulley 23, on one of the upper collapsible members 2, and thence passes over and is connected tothe end 24 of a projecting lever 24, fastened to' thesecond upper collapsible member 2, this lever or bar 24, extending over i the pivoted or intermediate hinge portion of the collapsible members 2, so that when the latter are in their broken position, as shown in Fig. 5, a loop 22 isformed by the caple passing over the pulley 23, and it will be obvious that when the lower collapsible members 2, assumetheir straightened position,

i when the section is expanded, the movement of the cable 22, will positively draw up the bar24 in parallel relation with the member 22, as shown. most.

clearly in .1, of the drawings.

cable or cord 25', leading to the floating pulley block 15, such pull cord 25, passing over a pulley 26, and out through a suitable opening on a face of the wall,or if desired two of such pull cords may be employed, the other cord passing out through the opposite wall of the collapsible partition.

1 In the continuous form of collapsible wall as shown in Fig. 10, of the drawings, instead of the gathering cables 8, terminating at each frame member 1, such cables extend through openings in the intermediate frames 1, andv over pulleys 27, so that all of the.

frame units andW-all sections will be simultaneously collapsed and folded in an obviou manner. g V

In the form shown in Figs. 11, 12 and '13 of the drawings, the upp'er collapsible mem-- bers 2, are eliminated and the upper ends of the covering wall 3, ,are independently mounted, through the medium of a plurality: of hooks 28, passing through loop-eyes29 of carriage, loops 29, the-- latter being provided with carriage rollers or wheels 29",

traveling in the .tracksor ways formed by the one piece track 30, which track member 30, also forms an enclosed guide-way, formed i V ter,-and means for It will be understood that the cables 8 are operated simultaneously by means of a pull,

of a single lengthof sheet metal'jrolled into suitable shape and attached to the under side of-the guide rail 31. I a

In the form shown in Fig. 8, the lower endsofthe frame members 1, may be provided with rollers 32, adapted totravel on the floor and. support the frame andwall. sections. I q

In the form shown in Fig.2, theframe and wall sections are suspended from a suitable over-hanging wall for support, for convenient operation in a vertical direction-similar to a curtain, and in-an-obvious manner,

c Having thus descr bed some of the, embodiments of my'1nvent1on,;w1thout having attemptedto set :forth all the forms in which.

it may be 'made, or all'the modes of its use,v

what I claim and desire to secure Letters Patent, 3 is 1. A collapsible wall, comprising a collapsible frame section carrying spaced flex- I 3.-A collapsible wall, comprising'a plurality of collapsible frame sections each carrying spaced flexible covering walls, means for connecting and initially breakingop posite sides of said frame sections, and;

cable mechanism, cooperating with. said frame section connecting and breaking means forfldrawing the remaining sides of said frame sections toward each other'and gathering said flexible covering walls there over at one side. i

, 4c. In a collapsible'wall, a collapsible section comprising parallel frame members flexibly-connected by collapsible end members, spaced flexible coverings connected to the sides of said (frame and end members, and

- cable 'members within said .coverings' com nected' tolsaid frame and collapsible end members whereby the: latter may be collapsed and folded inwardly toward; each other between said lparallelfra-me members and the latterand said at one side. 1

section w'comprising parallelly extending frame members-flexibly connected to in-- wardly collapsible and foldable end'members, spaced flexible coverings connected to coverings .be folded 5,. In. a collapsible wall, a collapsible wall the sides of said frame members, and cable members within said coverings connected to said parallel frame and collapsible inwardly foldable end members whereby the latter may be collapsed and folded inwardly between said parallel frame members and the latter and said coverings be positively folded and collected at one side, respectively, by said cable members.

6. In a collapsible wall, a collapsible frame of rectangular form including inwardly relatively movable sides, and collapsible end members extending from one side and connected to the opposite side, said collapsible end members being flexibly connected to the endsof said relatively movable sides and hinged intermediate thereof and provided with-flexible pull elements whereby said hinged portions are initially drawn toward each other'between the ends'of said relatively movable sides of said frame.- I

'7. In a collapsible wall, a collapsible frame section including relatively-movable sides and oppositely arranged inwardly foldable frame end members, flexible coverings connected to the sides of said frame members and provided with cable guides, and means within said guidesconnected to said inwardly foldable frame end. members whereby said frame and covering members are collapsed and folded, respectively.

8. In a collapsible wall, a collapsible frame section, including relatively movable sides and flexibly connected inwardly fold able collapsible frame end members, flexible coverings connected to the sides of said ,frame section and provided on their inner sides with cable guides, and cable members within said guides'connected to said'inwardly foldable collapsible frame end members whereby said frame and covering members are collapsed and folded, respectively.

' 9. In a collapsible wall, a collapsible frame section embodying parallelly extendingside frame members connected by inter mediate inwardly foldable members hinged at the-ends of said side frame members, and cable members extending from one sideframe member and. connected to the other, the intermediate portions of the cable members being flexibly connected to the inwardly foldable ends of said inwardly foldable members thru loop members formed therein whereby said inwardly foldable members are initially drawn toward each other and collapsed between said side members in the folding operation.

10. In a collapsible wall, a collapsible section embodying parallelly extending side frame members connected by intermediate inwardly foldable members hinged on said side frame members, and connections extending from one side frame member to to form the corners of the" rectangular frame, and collapsing cable 'members extending from one side of the frame and con nected to theopposite side, said cable members having their intermediate portions looped and flexibly connected to the inner foldable ends of said oollapsiblemembers whereby the latter are"initially drawn toward each other between the ends of said frame members as the latter are drawn to-' ward each other in the collapsing operation. 12. In a collapsible'wall, a'co-llapsible wall section comprising a frame section made up of side members and intermediate hin 'edly' connected inwardly foldable members, said inwardly foldable members being hinged to form the corners-of the frame sectionand also hinged intermediate such corners, flexible covering walls on thejsides of said frame section and provided with'arcuately arranged guides with respect to said hinged corners and terminating at the innerhinged portions of said foldable members, and cables within thegu'ideportion's of said cov erings connected to one of said sides and flexibly connected to the inner hinged poi:

tions of said collapsiblemembers whereby the latter are initially drawn inwardly and the sides drawn toward each other to col-- lapse said frame and fold said flexible covering walls thereover;

13. In a collapsiblewall, a collapsible wall section comprising a rectangular frame made up of side bars and intermediate hingedly connected inwardly foldable bars,

said inwardly foldable bars being hinged to form the corners of the frame and also iinged lntermediate such corners, flexible covering walls on -the sides of said frame provided with arcuately arrangedguides, converging toward the inner hinged portions of said inwardly foldable bars and means within said guidesof' said coverings connected to one of said side bars and flexibly connected to the inner'hinged portions of said collapsible bars whereby the latter are initially broke and drawn inwardly with the side bars toward each other'in collapsing covering.

In testimonywhereof-I have afiixed my signature.

- HERMAN W. 'MAURER.

said frame and folding said flexible 

